A strength of Wild Oats XI is the yacht's crew, with the majority of the 19-strong crew sailing the past seven Sydney-to-Hobart's together along with a series of lead-up races to this year's big event.

The yacht has also undergone extensive modifications the past two years to increase both her upwind and downwind speed with her crew spending hours this month completing her on-water preparations.

In contrast, Grant Wharington and his team has had limited time on the water in the lead-up to the race thanks to the late delivery of sails and other equipment.

And Syd Fischer's team on Ragamuffin Loyal has also had a hindered lead-up after damaging their mast and rig a fortnight ago.

Fischer has "stiffened" the crew aboard his 100-footer with round-the-world navigators Matt Humphries and Andrew Cape joining the afterguard for the race on the yacht which claimed line honours as year ago under Anthony Bell.

"It looks like it will be a fairly easy race for us," said Fischer, at 85 the oldest skipper and sailor in the 2012 Sydney to Hobart.

"It doesn't look like we will get knocked around too much."

Aboard Fischer's yacht is Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill, racing in his second Sydney-to-Hobart to help raise money for the Loyal Foundation.

Fischer said he was pleased to have the former swimmer aboard with his strength put to good use hauling sails.

"He's a good bloke. He fits in," Fischer said. "He's strong and he's fit and he's done it before."

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